Autumn Pasquale Missing: Authorities searching for 12-year-old New Jersey girl

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Autumn Pasquale, 12

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(CBS) CLAYTON, N.J. - New Jersey State Police are asking for the public's help in their search for Autumn Pasquale, a missing 12-year-old girl who disappeared from her father's home in Clayton, New Jersey on Saturday, CBS Philly reports.

PICTURES: Autumn Pasquale, 12, missing

Pasquale was last seen leaving her father's home on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on a white BMX Odyssey bike.

"When you wake up in the morning and your daughter's still not home, it's time to panic," said Autumn's mother Jenn Cornwall, "I don't know who she was supposed to meet up with. She just left and said she was meeting a friend."

She communicated with her mom by phone about 15 minutes after she left the home. Cornwall says they briefly texted back and forth.

Family, friends and neighbors have been searching for Pasquale since her father reported her missing around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday. Clayton Police were joined by the Gloucester County Child Abduction Response Team of K-9 units and officers and firefighters from surrounding towns. The FBI is also involved in the search, and a New Jersey State Police helicopter has searched the area.

Autumn's father, Tony Pasquale, said his daughter would not have left on her own.

"The police expressed runaway," he said. "I totally disagree with that, because it's not her at all. She's responsible, respectful. She's a good girl."

Pasquale is 5'2" and weighs 120 pounds. She has long, wavy blonde hair with pink highlights, which is usually pulled back in a ponytail. She was last seen wearing navy blue sweatpants over navy blue shorts, a yellow t-shirt with "Clayton Soccer" written on the front, bright blue high-top sneakers and a light grey or silver backpack with the word "reckless" on the back.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts should contact the Clayton Police Department at 856-881-2301.

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by Alex20016 October 23, 2012 7:34 PM EDT: The empty chests where these teen boys should have hearts is what we are creating with our valueless society and completely meaningless entrainment, gaming, and "social networks". Not one lick of it is holy or beneficial for our children, many who grow up with no values and no heart but are too lazy to commit stupid and vile crimes like this. Why write about it even, nothing will ever change.; Reply to this comment


by ModelRania October 23, 2012 12:01 PM EDT: So heart-breaking. Please be wary of the info you post online! http://www.******/T8IAtK; Reply to this comment


by nobodyhasthis October 23, 2012 7:29 AM EDT: I'm a bit shocked that most of what I'm reading here is a lot of judgement and blame on these traumatized parents. We shouldn't sit here and automatically blame them when, in all reality, we don't know them or anything about their parenting. There is not one parent out there that has the same exact style and that's perfectly fine. They are traumatized and may not even know what they're saying.You can do everything possible to make sure your kids are safe. Even if you think you know, when your kids are out of our site, we have no control on what they do. It's silly to make assumptions.These parents need support not lash outs. We had an abduction here in Colorado and the community rallied an amazing support team and everyone came together to do their part in finding this girl. Sadly the search came to an end when her remains were discovered and dismembered. People from around the state came to support the family. That is whats needed. Not becoming angry lashing out unneeded accusations. I wanted to comment also on the above message about if the dad has the girl then something must be wrong with the mother. How dare you say that! We don't know their parenting arrangements! It could be a 50/50 split and they equally share or maybe it was dads day. But to automatically assume negative thoughts about the mothers capability of parenting is immature, disrespectful and flat out ignorance on your part. Wake up, stop the blame and pray for this girls safe return. That would be more productive and appreciated; Reply to this comment


by Justmeagranny October 22, 2012 10:47 PM EDT: I am so sick of people saying they just ran way. In my area they said that 3 days later body of 15 year old found in lake with weights. Prayers for the family hope she sill be found safe.; Reply to this comment

by xraeddie October 22, 2012 6:12 PM EDT

As the parent of a 12 yr old I can not begin to understand the mothers's comment saying " I don't know who she was expecting to meet up with".I mean really??? This isn't the world of our parents when we were 12.My son wouldn't even think of leaving our house on a bike without my wife and I knowing exactly where he was going,with whom and for how long.I don't blame anyone here ...but that's the first thing that struck me as odd.

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by ariella98 October 22, 2012 8:53 PM EDT: I do know who to blame...the parents! I have 14 year old twin girls and number one: they never go anywhere alone and number two; I always know ask the same questions you do. Plus I call the parents of the friends they are meeting or house they are going to. If I am droping them off at the mall with friends or a carnival, etc., they are to text me every 1/2 hour so I know they are OK. In this day and age you cannot send your child off in the middle of the afternoon and wait until the next morning to communicate with them. Stupid, stupid people.


by ChooseAnomnity October 22, 2012 9:02 PM EDT: These stories don't always show you the whole story. I know her mom, and she's a VERY involved mom. What this does not say is that the girls parents are divorced. Please don't pass judgement on the parents at a time like this. It's terrible enough to be dealing with an ordeal such as this, but to have people out there BLAMING them - seriously people. Think about what you're saying here.


by mikeb1993 October 23, 2012 2:50 AM EDT: I just love ChooseAnomnity's post. Everyone who knows how to read can see they are divorced, and it is very obvious she is not a good mom. No good mother allows her children to live with their ex husband. My heart bleeds for the poor father right now.


by idiotforreading October 23, 2012 11:07 AM EDT: You people are sickos. Blaming a parent for this, are you heartless morons? All of you should be ashamed of yourselves, you will rot in hell for comments like this. Try saying it to that girls parente faces, you are scum. I hope they knock on your door and make you account for this kind of ignorant venom. Be ashamed, very ashamed, for it could happen to you tomorrow.


by AngelPic October 22, 2012 5:37 PM EDT: Have the police has analyzed if it exist a connection between the individuals that have been trying to lure minors into a van or pick up. There have been many reports about it at different counties at NJ in the last couple of weeks.; Reply to this comment


by teramiabullfrog October 22, 2012 2:24 PM EDT: I just spent over an hour typing a comment regarding helping with the search for Autumn Pasquale (on behalf of a public supported 501(c)(3) charity), and when I tried to submit it I was told the text could only contain 4,999 characters, so I had to delete a major part of the text. Seems you could let people know there's a limit before spending all the effort and time on trying to help the family of this Missing Child.; Reply to this comment

by 1BeachBum609 October 22, 2012 2:09 PM EDT

it makes me so angry but cops ALWAYS say that it's RUNAWAY! When my sons were younger and went for a walk in the woods while it was snowing and didn't come back the police said THE SAME THING TO ME! They were lost out in the woods with the dog for HOURS during a BLIZZARD and could have frozen to death and GUESS WHO FOUND THEM?! NOT THE COPS! THE NEIGHBOURS!

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